On the Pitch The 2017 MIAA Soccer Newsletter August 2017 Team Sportsmanship Award Winners The Massachusetts high school soccer community--school administrators, coaches, players, game officials, and the MIAA State Soccer Committee, has worked diligently over the past decade to improve the quality of interscholastic soccer, with a strong emphasis on sportsmanship. Through a unified effort and with a balance of educational programs and strict accountability measures, the goal has been to significantly reduce the negative behaviors exhibited by some soccer players, coaches, and spectators. The MIAA Soccer Committee would like to recognize those schools, whose soccer teams, during the 2017 season, distinguished themselves in the area of good sportsmanship, which earned them an MIAA Soccer Team Sportsmanship Award presented at the 2017 State Soccer Finals. These are teams which, through the collective efforts of their coaches, players, fans, and administrators, demonstrated their unique commitment to sportsmanship, integrity, and ethics. Congratulations to: Whitinsville Christian School Bay Path RVT High School Somerville HS (Girls) (Girls) (Boys) 2017Cut-Off Date: The cut-off date for the 2017 Soccer season is Tuesday, October 31, 2017. 2017 Dates to Remember August 24, 2017 -First Practice Date September 3, 2017 -First Contest Date -Varsity Rosters to be entered in Members Only of the MIAA Website prior to your first varsity contest. September 30, 2017 -Schedule & Commitment Due October 24, 2017 Sportsmanship Responsibility of Competing Schools Compliance Policy Due October 31, 2017 -Cut-Off Date November 1, 2017 -Tournament Seeding November 18, 2017 -Championship Saturday, All divisions.
From the State Interpreter... The High School/MIAA soccer season of 2017/18 is upon us again. The interval between seasons seems so short and getting shorter every year! Our concern, the rules of play, have changed only nominally. The Gods of soccer rules are satisfied with their game! If rule change was the only reason for our annual mandatory interpretation meetings, we could manage by Email. NOT the case, however! There are a myriad of other things to talk and emphasize. SAFETY remains our prime concern - nothing new there, game management is a constant subject at our meetings. Points of Emphasis this year suggest we review injury awareness and management with particular eye on head injuries (and the possibility of concussions). We are all required to take the online "Concussion" course, we will do that and must keep it foremost in our minds. We will be seeing more "Heading Helmets" in play this year. They are legal, subject to your approval for "sharps", but are NOT required! A recent study out of the University of Colorado indicates that it is not heading that causes head injuries, but rather "ROUGH PLAY". Heading is allowed, rough play is NOT! It is specifically disallowed by rule and common sense AND, furthermore, is our job to recognize, prevent (as possible), and penalize! Rules of play will not, nor cannot, prevent all injuries, but WE can markedly reduce injuries with proper adherence to the 17 rules given to us. Strict administration of RULE 18 (Common Sense), perhaps the most critical to assure a safe environment and a level playing field for all the "kids" we will supervise this Fall. As usual, enjoy your season! I hope all your games are on well conditioned fields and on sunny days! Calvin G Perry, O.D. MIAA Interpreter MIAA Official of the Year Award Congratulations to the 2016 MIAA Soccer Officials of the Year! Michele Beagan Matt Stein Page 2 On the
2017-18 NFHS Soccer Rule Changes 4-1-1d:...If visible apparel is worn under the jersey and/or shorts, it shall be a single solid color matching the predominant color of the respective garment. Visible arm compression sleeves shall be a similar length, all alike and of a solid color matching the predominant color of the jersey. Visible leg compression sleeves shall be of a similar length, all alike and of a solid color matching the predominant color of the shorts. 8-1-3:.The ball shall be kicked while it is stationary on the ground in the center of the field of play and may clearly move in any direction. Think Taylor: Concussion Awareness Week September 11-15, 2017 *During the week of September 11th, all MIAA Member High School varsity athletes will take part in ThinkTaylor/MIAA Concussion Awareness Week. Please take part in the #TTpledge with your students at ThinkTaylor.org and by posting your support on social media using #TTpledge. Breast Cancer Awareness Soccer Matches October 2017 If any school is hosting a fundraising soccer match or tournament for breast cancer, please email Phil Napolitano (pnapolitano@miaa.net) with the event name and date by September 18, 2017. Brine, the official soccer ball of the MIAA, has graciously provided us with a limited amount pink/white Brine soccer balls for these events. Don t forget to email Phil a photo of your team holding the pink/white Brine soccer ball prior to the Breast Cancer awareness match!! Page 3 Page On 3 the
MIAA Soccer Rule Highlights 78.1.1 Any red or yellow card issued to a high school player/coach must be reported on the MIAA Soccer Roster and Score Sheet and also entered on-line in the Members Only section of the MIAA website. (Please see rule 78.2.18 for infraction reporting requirements.) 78.2.5 A player committing a second yellow card infraction in the same contest receives a red card. There are no exceptions. It should be reported as only a red card (not two yellows or a yellow and a red). 78.2.11 Any player who receives a third yellow card in a season shall be suspended from the next contest; a fourth yellow card and subsequent yellow cards in a season shall result in suspension for two contests. This penalty carries over to the next soccer season (or next season if senior) if happens in last contest, or the next to last contest. 78.2.12 A coach who receives a third yellow card in a season shall be suspended from coaching the next two contests. A fourth yellow card in a season shall result in a one year suspension. The penalty carries over to the next soccer season if happens in last contest, or the next to last contest. 78.2.13 Any coach (head or assistant) who receives a red card, is ejected from the contest and shall be suspended from coaching for the next two contests. If a coach receives a second red card in a season, the coach shall be disqualified for one year. The contest may continue if appropriate administration is available. 78.2.14 A deliberate (intentional) handball to prevent a ball from entering the goal is a red card offense. However, the offender will be suspended from the remainder of that contest and only the next regularly scheduled contest. 78.2.16 For purposes of obtaining tournament eligibility, no team may exceed a four red or thirteen yellow cards during the regular season. Delay of game encroachment and deliberate (intentional) handball are infractions, which will continue to be enforced and penalized. The impact of these infractions will be assessed and will be considered towards tournament ineligibility. 78.2.17 Any team whose players/coaches receive collectively five (5) yellow and/or red cards in a contest (including pre & post game) will result in immediate termination of the contest, and result in forfeiture by the offending team. A full list of MIAA Soccer specific rules can be found on pages 81-84 of the MIAA Handbook MIAA Soccer Scoresheets Infractions A copy of the MIAA scoresheet no longer needs to be sent to the MIAA office. All scores and infractions must be entered online in the MIAA Members-Only section. Please do not confuse the soccer scoresheet with the coach/student contest disqualification form. A copy of all DQ forms must still be sent to the MIAA office. Soccer Uniforms 78.1.6 The home team shall wear white or light jerseys and socks, and the visiting team shall wear dark jerseys and socks (which maintains the 2010-11 NF Rule indefinitely). Page 4 On the
Athlete & Coach Contest Disqualifications/Suspensions 49.1 The contest official who disqualifies a student or coach under the provision of this rule should immediately inform the coach of each team, official scorer (if any), and state the violation. If the game official fails to file his/her written coach/student contest disqualification form, the individual is nevertheless bound by the suspension. An Official who fails to complete the form required as a result of an athlete or coach disqualification shall be suspended from officiating any MIAA contest in that sport for at least two weeks or until the form is completed and received by the principal of the disqualified athlete or coach. Judgments of game officials are not subject to appeal. If the event does not have officials (e.g. golf, tennis) it is the responsibility of the site manager to report any disqualification to the Athletic Director who in turn will complete the MIAA Coach or Student Contest Disqualification Form. 49.2 The athletic director in charge of the contest, or his/her designee, is responsible for: (1) having the official disqualification forms available for game officials, and (2) sending copies to the principal of each school involved, the athletic director of each school involved, and the executive director of the MIAA. Contest official(s) should complete the forms before leaving the site of the contest. Rule Infraction Reporting Summary Infraction No. of Yellow No. of Red Total Cards Code and Name 2014 2015 2016 2014 2015 2016 2014 2015 2016 1. Delay of game 63 80 72 0 0 0 63 80 72 2. Encroachment 20 21 39 0 0 0 20 21 39 3. Tactical handball foul 24 22 24 0 0 0 24 22 24 4. Equipment violation 13 13 18 0 0 0 13 13 18 5. Persistent infringement 81 81 92 0 0 0 81 81 92 6. Dissent 179 212 196 0 0 0 179 212 196 7. Incidental language 68 69 55 0 0 0 68 69 55 8. Holding, kicking, tripping 578 588 532 0 0 0 578 588 532 9. Faking injury or foul 8 1 6 0 0 0 8 1 6 10. Subsequent caution 2 0 0 9 7 10 11 7 10 11. Excessive celebration 0 3 3 1 1 1 1 4 4 12. Violent conduct 0 0 0 20 28 14 20 28 14 13. Serious foul play 0 0 0 12 15 14 12 15 14 14. Insulting, abusive 0 0 0 18 22 15 18 22 15 language 15. Taunting 0 0 0 5 7 2 5 7 2 16. Other 35 51 44 10 17 13 45 68 57 TOTALS 1071 1141 1081 75 97 69 1146 1238 1150 Page 5 On the
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat First Practice Thursday August 24th First Contest/ Roster Due Online Sunday September 3rd November 2017/MIAA Soccer Calendar Cutoff Date Tuesday, October 31st 1 2 3 4 Seeding (N/S/C/W) No Games Brackets Posted Sectional Games Begin (N/S/C/W) 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Championship Saturday! D1, D2 D3 & D4 State Finals 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 State Finals (Rain/Snow Date) Thanksgiving 26 27 28 29 30 The Official Soccer Ball of the MIAA